Chronic pain in the community: A survey in a township in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorIgumbor, Ehimario U.
dc.contributor.authorPuoane, Thandi
dc.contributor.authorGansky, Stuart A.
dc.contributor.authorPlesh, Octavia
dc.date.accessioned2012-10-02T11:53:10Z
dc.date.available2012-10-02T11:53:10Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractBackground: Comprehensive information is needed on the epidemiology and burden of chronic pain in the population for the development of appropriate health interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, severity, risk indicators and responses of chronic pain among adults in Ngangelizwe, Mthatha, South Africa. Method: A cross-sectional survey utilising structured interviews of a sample of adult residents was used. Interviews elicited information on socio-demographic characteristics, general health status, and the prevalence, duration, frequency, severity, activity limitation and impact of chronic pain. Results: More than 95% (n = 473) of the sampled adults participated in the study. Of these, 182 [38.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 36.3-42.5%] reported chronic pain in at least one anatomical site. The most common pain sites were the back and head. The median pain score was 5 on a scale of 0 to 10 [interquartile range (IQR) = 4-7] and the median number of sites of pain was 1 (IQR = 1-2). Female gender [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.7-3.9] and being older than 50 years of age (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 2.6-4.1) were identified as risk indicators for chronic pain in the sample. Over 65% of respondents reported that they self-treated; 92.1% had consulted with a doctor or nurse, 13.6% consulted a traditional healer, and 34.5% consulted a pharmacist because of their pain. Despite this, over 50% reported that relief of their pain was transient. Conclusion: Chronic pain is a common general complaint in this community, but there is a need for focused attention on women and the elderly.en_US
dc.description.accreditationDepartment of HE and Training approved listen_US
dc.identifier.citationIgumbor, E.U., Puoane, T., Gansky, S.A & Plesh, O. (2011). Chronic pain in the community: Survey in a township in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 17(5): 329-337en_US
dc.identifier.issn1027-9148
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/432
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.privacy.showsubmitterfalse
dc.publisherMedpharm Publicationsen_US
dc.rights© 2012 Igumbor, et al; licensee Medpharm Publications. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 South Africa License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
dc.status.ispeerreviewedtrue
dc.subjectChronic painen_US
dc.subjectAdultsen_US
dc.subjectPrevalenceen_US
dc.subjectPublic healthen_US
dc.subjectEastern Capeen_US
dc.titleChronic pain in the community: A survey in a township in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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